Reproducer for phonographs



W. E.. HUNT. REPRODUCER FOR PHoNoGRAPHs.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 1| 1919.

TTOH/I/EYS unirse armas Parser' clasica.

WILLIM EDWARDS HUNT, OF SIIIV'ER CITY, NEW MEXICO.

REPRODUCER FOR PHONOGRAPI-IS.

application med april 1,

certain new and useful Improvements in Reproducers for Phonographs, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in reproducers for phonographs or other sound reproducing devlces, and it consists in the combinations, constructions and arrangements herein described and claimed.

An object of my invention is to provide a reproducer by means of which a perfectly clear. distinct loud and natural tone is secured, and in which the so-called mechanical lnoises and the nasal twang are eliminated.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device in which the lapping of sounds caused by echoes is obviated, and in which the loudness of sound is increased.

A further object of my invention is to provide a novel form of diaphragm .which Lis divided into sections in such a manner as to insure clear, loud, and natural tones.

A further object of my invention is to provide a novel means for holding theneedle in the stylus bar.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the following specification, and the novel features of the invention will be particularly pointed outv in the appended claims.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming part of this application, i'n which:

Figure l is a section through the reproducerj' Figure 2 is a face view thereof; a por- -tion being broken away;

, Figurel is a 'section along the line 3-3 of Figure l, looking in the direction of the arrows; I

Figure 4 is a face view of a modified form of the' diaphragm; l

Figure 5 is an enlarged section along the line 5-5 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a face view of another modified form of the diaphragm; and Y Figure 7 is an enlar ed sectional View along the line 7--7 of igure 6.

Figure 8 is a 'detail viewof the opposed quadrant shaped dampener.

In carrying out my invention I provide a funnel-shaped body portion 1 of any suit- Specication 'of Letters Patent. Patented lilftll. 2S, 1922@ 1919. Serial No. 286,741.

able material Vuwhose sides are `set at substantially 80O having at its small end an .integral, cylindrical extension 2, adapted to fit over the small end of the tone arm of a phonograph. The large end of the body portion Il4` has a laterally extending inclined flange 3, whose inner face is inclined at substantially 10o from the rim ofthe funnel to approximately midway to the periphery of said flange, and provided with a slightly raised annular rim 4.-- lhe rim 4 supports a ring 5, whose upper edge is rounded as shown at 6, this ring being undercut so as to'hold the diaphragm inthe manner hereinafter described. In the form of the device shown in Figure 1, the diaphragm is shown as a dish-shaped membrane 7 Whose edges yare held between an upper and a lower rubberrlng 8 and 9 respectively. The

ring 5 is secured to the flange 3 by means ofscrew bolts 10, the heads of these bolts being countersunk as shown vin the drawings, and the ring 5 being drawn down tlghtly to clamp'the diaphragm securely between the rubber rings 8 and 9.

By providing the body'member of the reproducer with a funnel shaped opening and the inclined surface 3,' approximately all of the sound waves from the diaphragm will be thrown into the opening through the body member 1, either directly into the funnel' extending therethrough or .after one ormore rebounds from the inclined surface 3. I am enabled to thus employ practically all of the sound waves set in motion bythe diaphragm, without causing neutrali! zation of' said sound waves by the opposed phases thereof, as is common 1n reproducers as now constructed, and which results in loss of intensity and clearness of tone, by

the use in conjunction with such adia phragm and body member of damp'ening means to be hereinafter described.

The ring 5 is provided with lugs or ears 11 through which pivot pins 12 extend. These pivot pins support the vibrating arm 13, one end of which extends inwardly toward the center, is bent laterally, and is secured to the center'of the diaphragm at -1/1. The 'opposite end of the arm is threaded as shown at 15, and is provided with slots 16, and also with a longitudinal bore (not shown) into which the stylus or needle 17 may enter. A nut 18 is provided by means of which the needle may be clamped firmly in position, the slotted,

vibrations received when the stylus is trave1` ing over the groove in the vi'ecoi'd (not shown) are transmitted to the diaphragm through the vibrating arm 13 and the latter Ais in turn caused to vibrate. The member 19 serves to absorb adverse vibrations set up by the diaphragm body and reduces the sharpness and shrillness of the tone.

Furthermore by the provision of novel means whereby the sound waves which are not thrown directly ito the opening of the reproducer, are reflected so as to ultimately pass into said opening, the volume of the tone produced is increased and echoes are eliminated.

The particular material which I prefer to use in making any of the diaphragms, i. e., the form shown in Figure 1. that shown in Figures 4 and 5, and that shown in Figures 6 and 7, is rawhide shaved to proper thinness and stitened by wetting and drying, and then lacquered to prevent the absorption of moisture. is shown at 24 in Fig. 5. By dividing the diaphragm into sections, practically independent portions of the diaphragm are provided which will vibrate independently. and since one section will not control the vibration of the adjacent sections, they will all vibrate in unison, thereby causing the sound waves from all parts ot the diaphragm to be of the same phase, giving a loud` clear, and natural tone Without the necessity of interposing an absorbing medium, as previously described.

Instead of dividing the diaphragm, the same effect may be produced by stitfening it in the manner set forth in Figures 6 and 7. rlhis may be done in a number of ways, but preferably by the use of straws 25, set atter the manner of the spokes of a wheel. rThe diaphragm "r'b is made thinner than in the form shown in Figure 5 but the stitfening members 25, act as interrupters tothe contrary vibrations of the opposed sections oi the diaphragm, to cause all parts of the iatter to vibrate in unison.

Such a coating of lacquer in a iece of material )resentinr two o posed sections of a circle joinewd at the center.

2. A reproducer, including in combination with a reproducer housingand diaphragm associated therewith, of dampening means within said housing and spaced from said diaphragm, said dampening means including a piece of material presenting two opposed-sections ot a circle joined at the center, each of said sections being substantially quadrants of a circle.

3. A reproducer, including in combination with a reproducer housing and diaphragm associated therewith, of dampening means within said housing and spaced from said diaphragm, said dampening means including a piece ot material presenting two opposed sections ot a circle joined at the center, each ot said sections being substantially quadrants ot a circle, the arcuate edges of said sections engaging the inner face ot said reproducer housing.

4. A reproducer, including in combination with 'a .reproducer housing and diaphragm associated therewith, of dampening means within vsaid housing and spaced from said diaphragm, said dampening means including a piece ot' material presenting two opposed sections of a circle joined at the center, each of said sections being substantially quadrants ot' a circle, the arcuate edges ot' said sections engaging the inner face of said reproducer housing, the center ot said piece of material being depressed.

5. A dampener for reproducers, including a piece of material presenting two opposed sections, of a circle joined at the center, each 'of said sections being substantially -qnadrants of a circle, said dampening means being adapted to be positioned within a reproducer housing, and spaced from the diaphragm ot' said reproducer, the arcuate edges of the sections et said dampening means engaging the inner face ot' said reproducer housing.

WlLlLlAM EDVJAFDS HUNT. 

